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Hotrod your Hermes

I've owned the new 24/192 Kora Hermes for several months now. Right after I got it, I commented on one of the threads about the excellent performance of this DAC, especially at it's price point. I promised to provide a more thorough review of this DAC after it had some time on it. Unfortunately, I failed to do this. Reason being, I began modifications on this unit after observing the open architecture inside it. Since then, I have done the following:
1. Replaced the stock tubes with Seimans gold pins (Be careful doing this. The current Hermes has pin type tube sockets with springs inside them. Lose a spring, and your tube won't make contact. No warnings in the manual about this. This happened to me. Luckily, JC Audio exchanged my "missing springs" DAC for a brand new one. Great customer service!! In the future, Kora plans to change these sockets)
2. Top Hat tube dampers
3. Audio Magic 99.999 silver wire on all inputs and outputs
4. Shakti on-lines on the circuit board
5. Shielded the two transformers from each other and the circuit board using non-magnetic MU metal
6. Replaced all caps with a mixture of MIT, Hovland, and high precision oil caps
7. Shakti stone on the transformers
8. Replaced input and output jacks with WBTs
This turned this already excellent DAC into....A MONSTER!! Why? There is only one way to describe the performance of the Hotrod Hermes. IT'S ALIVE!!! The silence of the background is stunning. The images are more palpable and more full bodied. The soundstage is deeper and wider. The background is blacker, and details you never believed were on redbook CDs are now clearly audible. Yet this DAC remains extremely musical. This is by far and away the best DAC I've heard. Not an analytical bone in it's body. A friend of mine also modified his this way, and will add to this thread about his impressions. Jerry Ramsey of Audio Magic suggested many of these mods, and did the serious ones. He does excellent work if you need someone to do it for you. If you own a Hermes, you must consider doing all or some of these things. The potential to make an already excellent DAC into a world beater is huge with this thing. And the cost of the DAC and mods keeps you under $2500.
glreno
jcaudio's avatar
jcaudio
237 posts
 
SINCE I PLACE CONES IN A TRIANGULAR CONFIGURATION I HAD TO AFFIX THE CONES WITH ONE DROP OF SUPER GLUE GEL. THE STOCK CONFIGURATION UTILIZES 4 CONES.
glreno OP
224 posts
 
I finished with the last modification I intend to do with the Hermes, that being isolating the toroidal transformers from the chassis. I should note that many of these modifications were done incrimentally so I could hear what was taking place after each one. I disagree with the Kora designers. Shielding the transformers and DAC with MU metal made an obvious difference. It was done at the same time the boards received vibration damping. The result was a blacker background and more perceived detail. The biggest surprise came when I put vibrapods under the transformers. Layering within the soundstage became more defined, and inner detail improved significantly. Instruments and vocals also became more full bodied. This was not subtle. Use vibrapod #5s, so you can put some torque on the nuts holding the transformers without collapsing the vibrapods and making them ineffective. I also experimented with Black Diamond cones under the DAC. They also helped, but I have many different kinds of cones that all seemed to tighten images within the soundstage. Just about all of them work better than what's on there. Happy tweaking!!
mrsilver's avatar
mrsilver
13 posts
 

Due to popular demand and working out details from my
11/25/01 posting Audio Magic will continue doing
upgrades on the hermes, thanks for your support.

Jerry
jeffga
89 posts
 
I recently had my Hermes modified by Jerry at Audio Magic. There is no mistaking the wonderful improvements as a result of his fine work. The unit was already extremely good (stock) but the mods further improved image focus /3D imaging and layering, bass articulation and tonal differentiation (in the bass), increased soundstage depth, elimination of midrange glare (except where the software is to blame---good recordings become excellent and excellent recordings are unbelievable), crystaline highs, and excellent dynamics. Jerry's quick turnaround and excellent communication were also greatly appreciated. This work is truly a bargain. I must also mention that my unit "only" has 60 hours on it and continues to improve daily (mostly due to the cap forming). All I can say is that Kora produced a fabulous product (stock) and with the mods it is superb!! Highly recommended and a true value without compromise. This may be the best digital at any price!
jcaudio's avatar
jcaudio
237 posts
 
After receiving the feedback from Gary regarding the Vibrapods under the transformers I forwarded his findings to Kora USA. Regardless of their decision in this matter I have decided to offer that upgrade to customers who purchase the units from us. For people with older units wishing the full mod I suggest contacting Jerry at Audiomagic. Purchasers of mods must be aware that at this time! their is no manufacturer warranty on modified units. Vibrapods excluded as this doesn't require any modifications. Even though the warranty will be void. At the cost of the original units and knowing Jerry I would sure be willing to do it.
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